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Dream Big Dreams: Photographs from Barack Obama's Inspiring and Historic Presidency


Pete Souza - 2017
    He was with the President during more crucial moments than anyone else -- and he photographed them all, capturing scenes both classified and candid.Throughout his historic presidency, Obama engaged with young people as often as he could, encouraging them to be their best and do their best and to always "dream big dreams." In this timeless and timely keepsake volume that features over seventy-five full-color photographs, Souza shows the qualities of President Obama that make him both a great leader and an extraordinary man. With behind-the-scenes anecdotes of some iconic photos alongside photos with his family, colleagues, and other world leaders, Souza tells the story of a president who made history and still made time to engage with even the youngest citizens of the country he served.By the author of Obama: An Intimate Portrait, the definitive visual biography of Barack Obama's presidency, Dream Big Dreams was created especially for young readers and not only provides a beautiful portrait of a president but shows the true spirit of the man.

Caroline's Comets: A True Story


Emily Arnold McCully - 2017
    Born the youngest daughter of a poor family in Hanover, Germany, she was scarred from smallpox, stunted from typhus and used by her parents as a scullery maid. But when her favorite brother, William, left for England, he took her with him. The siblings shared a passion for stars, and together they built the greatest telescope of their age, working tirelessly on star charts. Using their telescope, Caroline discovered fourteen nebulae and two galaxies, was the first woman to discover a comet, and became the first woman officially employed as a scientist by no less than the King of England! The information from the Herschels star catalogs is still used by space agencies today.

A Voyage in the Clouds: The (Mostly) True Story of the First International Flight by Balloon in 1785


Matthew Olshan - 2016
    But no one has flown from one country to another. John Jeffries, an Englishman, and his pilot, Jean-Pierre Blanchard, a Frenchman, want to be the first. On January 7, 1785, they set out to cross the English Channel to France in a balloon. All seemed to be going fine, until Jeffries decides the balloon looks too fat and adjusts the air valve—how hard could it be? Too bad he drops the wrench over the side of the aerial car. With no way to adjust the valve, the balloon begins to sink. Jeffries and Blanchard throw as much as they can overboard—until there is nothing left, not even their clothes. Luckily, they come up with a clever (and surprising) solution that saves the day. A VOYAGE IN THE CLOUDS is a journey that will keep kids laughing the whole way.A Margaret Ferguson Book

The Usborne Book of Wild Places: Mountains, Jungles & Deserts (Explainers)


Angela Wilkes - 1999
    This colourful book explores the exciting worlds of mountains, jungles and deserts, their dramatic landscapes, the animals and plants that inhabit them and the people who live in the most beautiful and remote areas of the earth.

Of Courage Undaunted: Across the Continent with Lewis & Clark


James Daugherty - 1951
    The author captures the magnificence of disciplined bravery, the gusto and rollicking humor of the two adventurers, and the beauty of the wilderness. Two and three-color illustrations. Recommended in Laura Berquist U.S. History amp Geography and American Literature Author: James Daugherty Grade: 7 and up Pages: 168, Paperback Publisher: Beautiful Feet Books ISBN: 1-883937-57-4

The Usborne Internet-Linked Children's Encyclopedia


Felicity Brooks - 2002
    Jam-packed with information, photographs, charts and maps for additional study and research.

A More Perfect Union: The Story of Our Constitution


Betsy Maestro - 1987
    Here is the unforgettable story of fifty-five Americans and the Constitution they created in 1787 to give the struggling new government a foundation that has held ever since.With accurate historical information, this 48-page nonfiction picture book tells why and how the Constitution of the United States was created. A More Perfect Union includes a map and back matter with a table of dates and a summary of the Articles of the Constitution."A simple, attractive, informative book about a milestone in American history. The simplest and most accessible history of the Constitution to date."—School Library Journal

The Winter of Red Snow: The Revolutionary War Diary of Abigail Jane Stewart, Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, 1777


Kristiana Gregory - 1996
    Eleven-year-old Abigail Jane Stewart records the despair and hope of the difficult winter between 1777-1778--when she witnessed George Washington readying his young soldiers on the frozen fields of Valley Forge.

Helen Keller's Teacher


Margaret Davidson - 1965
    The true story of the dedicated woman, Anne Sullivan Macy (April 14, 1866 – October 20, 1936), originally from Tewksbury, Massachusetts, who became Helen Keller's inspirational teacher and lifelong friend.

The Boy Who Bit Picasso


Antony Penrose - 2010
    Tony and his parents entertained Picasso at their home in England, and they went to visit Picasso and his family in France, too. Tony, when a child, really did bite Picasso. And Picasso bit him back! Filled with information about Picasso and his art, this book offers readers a rare glimpse into Picasso’s personal life and features more than sixty-five illustrations, including artworks by Picasso, photographs by Lee Miller, and specially commissioned drawings by contemporary children. Grown-up Tony, the son of photographer Lee Miller and painter-writer Sir Roland Penrose, shares his childhood memories of his remarkable playmate in this one-of-a-kind story. Praise for The Boy Who Bit Picasso.“A sparkling illustrated memoir. It is a wonderfully engaging glimpse of the creative life, as viewed from child-height”. –Wall Street Journal“It's a fascinating and highly personal vision of the artist.” –Publishers Weekly  “This intimate, child’s-eye view serves up a winning glimpse of the artist’s personality and unparalleled creative breadth.” –Kirkus Reviews  “In this delightful volume, the author recounts growing up with Pablo Picasso as a family friend. Appropriate for the topic, the book is a work of art in itself, featuring brightly colored pages and stunning black-and-white photos.” –School Library Journal

There's a Hair in My Dirt!: A Worm's Story


Gary Larson - 1998
    It was a cartoon that appeared for many years in daily newspapers and was loved by millions. (And was confusing to millions more.) But one day he stopped.Gary went into hiding. He made a couple short films. He played his guitar. He threw sticks for his dogs. They threw some back.Yet Gary was restless. He couldn't sleep nights. Something haunted him. (Besides Gramps.) Something that would return him to his roots in biology, drawing and dementia--a tale called There's a Hair in My Dirt! A Worm's Story.It begins a few inches underground, when a young worm, during a typical family dinner, discovers there's a hair in his plate of dirt. He becomes rather upset, not just about his tainted meal but about his entire miserable, wormy life. This, in turn, spurs his father to tell him a story--a story to inspire the children of invertebrates everywhere.And so Father Worm describes the saga of a fair young maiden and her adventuresome stroll through her favorite forest, a perambulator's paradise. It is a journey filled with mystery and magic. Or so she thinks.Which is all we'll say for now.What exactly does the maiden encounter?Does Son Worm learn a lesson?More important, does he eat his plate of fresh dirt?Well, you'll have to read to find out, but let's just say the answers are right under your feet.Written and illustrated in a children's storybook style, There's a Hair in My Dirt! A Worm's Story is a twisted take on the difference between our idealized view of Nature and the sometimes cold, hard reality of life for the birds and the bees and the worms (not to mention our own species).Told with his trademark off-kilter humor, this first original non--Far Side book is the unique work of a comic master.Now Larson can finally sleep at night.Question is, will you?(from the back cover)

The Golden Thread: A Song for Pete Seeger


Colin Meloy - 2018
    That golden thread, for Pete, was music.Born into a family of traveling musicians, Pete picked up his first instrument at age seven. From then on, music was his life, whether he was playing banjo for soldiers during World War II, rallying civil rights activists and war protesters with songs such as “We Shall Overcome,” “Where Have All the Flowers Gone?,” and “If I Had a Hammer,” or leading environmental efforts to clean up the Hudson River. For decades, Pete Seeger’s messages of universal understanding and social and environmental justice inspired generations—and have left a lasting legacy.

Moon's First Friends: One Giant Leap for Friendship


Susanna Leonard Hill - 2019
    Dinosaurs roam, pyramids are built, and boats are made, but still no one comes. The Moon can't help but wonder…will friends ever come visit her? Until one day a spaceship soars from Earth...and so does her heart.Learn about the spaceflight that first landed humans on the moon through this heartwarming story about friendship! Filled with adorable illustrations and charming text, this moon book for kids is a must-have for parents and teachers alike searching for new preschool solar system books and astronaut books for toddlers.Why readers love Moon's First Friends:An educational and heartwarming story about the first moon landing told from the unique perspective of the Moon itself!Educational back matter includes out-of-this world facts about the moon, space flight, and the individuals who made the mission possibleA scannable QR code allows readers to listen to the exciting countdown to Apollo 11's liftoff

Emmy Noether: The Most Important Mathematician You've Never Heard Of


Helaine Becker - 2020
    What she is, though, is a genius at math. When she grows up, she finds a way to first study math at a university (by sitting in, not actually enrolling) and then to teach it (by doing so for free). She also manages to do her own research into some of the most pressing math and physics problems of the day. And though she doesn't get much credit during her lifetime, her discoveries continue to influence how we understand the world today.Bestselling and award-winning Helaine Becker has crafted an engaging look at the life of Emmy Noether, a contemporary of Einstein's and one of the most influential, though little known, mathematicians of the twentieth century. Despite the obstacles she faced as a woman in a male-dominated field, and as a Jew who had to flee the Nazis, Emmy still accomplished a great deal. Artwork by Kari Rust uses touches of humor for emphasis and a golden glowing effect around Emmy to visually express her brilliance and ideas. Back matter includes a biographical note, explanations of complex mathematical concepts and suggestions for further reading. There are curriculum links to physics and mathematics --- subjects portrayed here as fascinating and exciting --- and poignant real-life character education lessons on courage and perseverance.

Who Was Abraham Lincoln?


Janet B. Pascal - 2008
    But Lincoln was tragically shot one night at Ford's Theater--the first President to be assassinated. Over 100 black-and-white illustrations and maps are included.